Red, White, and Blue: Uncorked Book 6, Shea Balik

There's not much you can do when your own mother understands nothing about who you are and what makes you happy, and even less when she's intent on making a scene in public places because of it.  Poor Blue, but one moment of a guilt-induced wardrobe gets him noticed by someone who he'd never have picked for himself.  Everything that Lowen is matches Blue and they get along really well, both bringing out strengths in one another.  While there was a ton of potential here, it was merely a nice story with a lot of sappy endearments, moments of passion, and a happy ending with more love than I expected.

I wish I was more thrilled with this story.  Apple Blossom really had potential to be a fantastic comedic element to the story, but instead she was a serious embarrassment and a disappointing human being.  Whether the direction with her character was supposed to me more dramatic or more funny, neither were fully realized and that was a shame.  Similarly, Blue could have really developed some grit in response to the first or more acceptance of himself and peace with the second, but again, without working to either of those ends, he was made to be an insecure young man and was left feeling less than complete as a character.  Lowen was nice with his encouragement and conflicted relationship with his parents, but if he weren't an MC I fear he'd be forgettable most of the time.

It's not that the story was bad or disappointing, it was just underwhelming.  There were a ton of moments that I was excited for when they came around, but very few of them bore any fruit.  So overall, it was a nice story.  This was my first book by this author and according to their catalogue, they've got quite a few under their belt so I'm hoping this isn't a true representation of their work.  I may or may not look for more from them.

*$4.99 on Amazon

Blue Moon tried to live a fairly ‘normal’ life. To him that meant working, paying bills and keeping as far under the radar as possible. He’d had enough of being the center of attention to last a lifetime. Although, to be fair, it usually wasn’t him that found a way to draw a crowd. That would be his mother, Apple Blossom. Blue was just the unfortunate person she used to gain the spotlight as often possible.

Lowen Delany loved his new job at The Twisted Vine as a Wine Tasting Assistant. His bosses didn’t even mind his multicolored hair and tattoos. It didn’t hurt that he got to try the vineyard’s new wines every year either. Best of all, he was able to meet new and interesting people every day, including a man who tried to hide behind a fake tree while wearing a colorful outfit that couldn’t have been missed in the dark from a mile away. Although, Lowen was fairly sure, even dressed in black, he would have noticed Blue.

But when Blue’s mother decides to butt into their budding relationship, thankfully, they both find that family is more than just about genetics. It’s about who is there for them when things get tough that matter most.

Apex Shifters Boxset, Emilia Hartley

Book 1: The Bear's Home

A giant of a bear-man who knows very little about his past, a sly feline-woman whose avarice might just ruin her chance at a future with that bear-man, and an unknown danger threatening everyone.

Starting off the series with a simple-minded bear and a crafty feline, there's a lot of drama both in the relationship and in the danger behind the scenes.  I enjoyed the story more for the plot surrounding the town of Ripple and involving the "villain's" machinations of the MC's rather than for the characters themselves.  Thorn and Felicity were likable in an aloof way, but not relatable, admirable, or even charming.  There was an immense amount of objectification and brawn over brain that threatened to tank the story, but the direction of the series just may save it.

Book 2: The Jaguar's Romance

Helping an innocent bear shifter caught in the middle of a feud brewing into a war, the jaguar player might just have met his match in the curvy, insecure, subtly passionate woman who needs him...in more ways than one.

I can't say my opinion of Sally and Oscar was very good going into the story and wasn't holding out much hope for them.  They weren't bad, just not really my cup of tea.  With the drama in the story heating up, there's a lot more that drew me in and along the way Oscar managed to win me over with his heart and acceptance of all the changes he's willing to make to keep Sally and the love they've found.

Book 3: The Grizzly's Vendetta

Elathan is finally being brought to justice.  But the type of justice staring him in the face is none other than a past he swore to avenge...and to love.

Ending with a bang, there were a lot of surprises that kept drawing me into the story.  I don't feel the ending was complete enough and there was a lot of unresolved tension surrounding the MC's and the main players from Ripple, Oregon.  The dramatic story line throughout this series is brought to a satisfying conclusion, though only for us as readers, not for the rest of the characters from it.  I was so glad to get the full story, the bigger picture surrounding Elathan's actions and what goes down is definitely a doozy.  I'm glad I kept up with the series and didn't give up before getting to this point.

*$2.99 on Amazon

Quick Reads, Quick Reviews 44

  

• Something to Believe in, Sloan Parker
• Shark: Shifter Kings Nashville Book 3, Holly Gunn
• Sleepless in San Francisco, Ryan Field

This was a very short story with two young men who are beyond down on their luck and find friendship during hardship.   Their relationship took longer to come together (off page) and when they finally did, it was mostly awkward confessions and a physical connection.  There's nothing in the synopsis to hint at how they come into the money, and it's not an easy situation in the least.  I'm not too uncomfortable with their situation or how it was described, though it was difficult to "witness" the specifics of what they had to do.  The holiday and resolution to the story was full of sweetness and hope for a better future but a bit too ...sappy?... for the tone set in the beginning.  It did end on a very happy note with all the warmth of holidays, family, and love which provided a tender counterpoint to where we started.  3 stars.

Right from the start there's a whole lot of nerd.  I liked both Shark and Lexie right away because they were definitely unique and we were given a pretty clear picture of who each of them are and why we should like them.  The big reveal was a little awkward, to say the least, as was the first intimate moment between the MC's.  It's not that their sexy times didn't pack a steamy punch, it certainly did, but I think it was the lead up, it just didn't feel well timed.  As for the mystery surrounding Nashville's shifter population, there's not a whole lot of explanation or progress.  In a book this short it just didn't have enough page space to get things really rolling without giving us enough of a relationship build sufficient to carry the story.  What it did give, however, was a sweet, sexy, quirky romance, a great set up for the next story (hopefully Wolf and Sera's!!), and a general sense of the turmoil that's brewing and what we might expect as the series continues.  The dialogue was mostly incredibly quirky and sometimes cringey, but the whole thing was silly, sexy, and I found myself utterly charmed.  I'm definitely going to read more from this series.  4 stars.

Holy inappropriateness, Batman!  From their very first encounter there was all kinds of behavior that was shocking, to say the least.  I was so turned off that I was tempted to stop reading after chapter one.  But it had to get better, right?  Well, the sex became frequent, there was virtually no relationship building, no communication, lots of awkward dialogue and unmoving "confessions", no dealing with grief in a sustainable way, and a whole lot of questionable relationship statuses flying around everywhere.  I don't care if established couples want to add someone for a night or more, I don't care if non-exclusive couples see other people...what I do care about is when it's within the realm of cheating.  The dog drama was unnecessary, as was the East Hamptons scene and all the various sexual partners and situations surrounding them, the seeking of signs rather than pulling your own head out, not being honest with everyone, no discussion with the son about the relationship (even though we know the son would be on board, there still needs to be at least a talk of some kind)...  I'm just so thoroughly and immensely dissatisfied by the entire story.  At least it was short.  1.5 stars.

Bodyguard to the Billionaire: The Billionaire Duet Book 1, Nana Malone

Packing a sensual heat, mystery, intrigue, passion, and interesting characters all at the start, Nana Malone has created yet another powerhouse beginning to what's promising to be another fantastic duet.  Mia is a strong, independent woman who has been burned by romance.  Theo is a capable, complicated man who has been burned by life's circumstances.  While secrets cloud who they could be to one another, there's no denying that their chemistry and personalities mesh incredibly well and promise a whole lot of awesome to come.

Theo is the strong, brooding, more mysterious hero that I actually like.  He has an honesty streak a thousand miles wide and only for the care of his mother is he willing to take on the role of duke and billionaire.  His inner turmoil and conflict are believable and while I wish he were open with Mia before he gets outed in a pretty extreme way, I kind of don't trust Mia to hold to her word.

Mia is a strong woman.  She's also moody and reactionary.  There's no denying that she's stellar at her job.  Her hacking skills I just know are going to play a huge role in the second book and I can't wait for her to grow into herself, to find herself and really accept all she is and what she's truly worth.  For now, though, she's so contradictory that I don't trust her with all that Theo is and is protecting.  She says she knows who he is inside despite his secrets, that when he's ready to share she hopes he'll open up to her, and then she vents to her bestie that she can't handle his secrets...I'm seriously hoping she doesn't pull an emotional runner under some guise of his dishonesty when his truth comes out.  I have high hopes for her, so I'm hanging in there to see if she lives up to who I feel Theo deserves.

This story has a mix of tropes I'm both a fan of and some not so much.  The fake relationship, the bodyguard scenario, those are totally my jam.  But mixing that with extra secrets isn't my favorite.  There are quite a few mysteries that are actually really predictable, but the way they're weaved into the story, the burgeoning relationship between Mia and Theo...there's so much magic that I don't mind the predictability.  And the "reveal" at the end for our cliffhanger?!  Damn.  I didn't see that happening that way.  I'm on the edge of my seat and wish I could read their conclusion RIGHT NOW!  Definitely a book worth diving in head first.

*$3.99 on Amazon!

AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU

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Add to your Goodreads TBR list!

Derrick Arlington is one of the world's most eligible billionaires. Voted Sexiest Man Alive--two years running. 
And I just so happen to look exactly like him. 

It's never come in handy until I get offered an actual job out of it.

It was supposed to be so simple.

Go to the Winston Isles, stand in as his body double for a few weeks, go back to my life.

But when our carefully constructed plan goes awry and the billionaire goes missing, I have no choice but to take his place and hire a bodyguard. The best in the business: a smart-mouthed, tight-assed, lady bodyguard.

Zia Barnes is the LAST thing I want, even if I need her. She's determined, smart, and has no idea I'm a total imposter.

Good thing I have no intention on falling for her, or I'd be royally screwed.

Coming Soon...

*Releasing September 17, 2019

AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU

B&N / KOBO / APPLE BOOKS

GOOGLE PLAY

About Nana...

USA Today Bestselling Author, NANA MALONE’s love of all things romance and adventure started with a tattered romantic suspense she borrowed from her cousin on a sultry summer afternoon in Ghana at a precocious thirteen. She’s been in love with kick butt heroines ever since.

With her overactive imagination, and channeling her inner Buffy, it was only a matter a time before she started creating her own characters. Waiting for her chance at a job as a ninja assassin, Nana, meantime works out her drama, passion and sass with fictional characters every bit as sassy and kick butt as she thinks she is.

The books in her series have been on multiple Amazon Kindle and Barnes & Noble best seller lists as well as the iTunes Breakout Books list and most notably the USA Today Bestseller list.

Until that ninja job comes through, you’ll find Nana working hard on additional books for her series as well as other fun, sassy romances for characters that won’t leave her alone. And if she’s not working or hiding in the closet reading, she’s acting out scenes for her husband, daughter and puppy in sunny San Diego.

Want to hit me up? Just email me:

nana@nanamaloneromance.com

Follow Nana...

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Falling for His Scars: Soldiers Support Group Book 3, Jamie June

The most painful scars aren't always the ones we carry on our skin.  Often it's the ones buried beneath that can rob us of our happiness, confidence, our future.  For Kevin, he's tired of the consequences of his job and his last deployment was rough.  Dealing with the fallout brings him closer to James, the young man he's always felt comfortable with, but moving from friends to lovers isn't easy and both men make a bunch of mistakes along the way.  Their story isn't an easy one.

Again with all the words.  I like the stories, for sure, but it just takes so long to sink in, to get lost in them, that I admit I don't jump in with both feet.  In this particular story, it starts out with a lot of buddy-buddy discussion, a bit more concealed feelings than previously recognized, and a couple events that change their dynamic in pretty drastic ways.  Neither man snags my attention as more than pleasant people that have some internal damage that will have to be addressed before anything romantic can really stick.

Their romance is fraught with saying and doing the wrong things with the right intentions.  At almost every turn both take the role of someone immature, reactionary, and unreasonable.  It was a little much at times, especially at the beginning of their change and again in the lead up to the huge accident that could destroy everything.  I was absolutely not expecting what happened to happen.  You think it's just something "simple" like overbearing family and careers that get in their way, but it becomes so, so, SO much more.  I'm actually still on the fence as to whether I'm okay with what happened, whether it was necessary or not.

Despite my reservations at the big conflicts and drama, I had a lot of things that I did like.  And Kevin's therapist?  She was straightforward, honest, and said all the right things.  She's one of the only therapists in a story that I've actually liked.  Kevin and James together were sexy, sweet, and ended with a ton of forward, hopeful planning.  They really were meant to be even if their journey was immensely difficult.

*$4.99 on Amazon

I'm not sure about anything anymore. Except him.

I tried so hard to join the military, but they didn't want me. Asthma. So I settled for being a military contractor instead. 

I've done well at it, too. But this last deployment... it was hard. Really hard. And I'm not sure I want to go through something like that again. 

I've got a friend - James. Younger man. Hot as hell, too. But I'm not sure about him, either. I keep finding myself wanting more - but does he? And even if he does, we're in two different places. Young buck like him, he's only started his career in the Army, while I'm ready to figure out what it means to have a home. 

Can we really make this work? Or will his overbearing parents and active duty career be the pressure points that tear us apart?